Note to 11

December 27, 2009

This kind of dualism in the Old and New Testaments—and depictions of angelic good and demonic evil—is the product of Zoroastrian influence on the writers. This influence is most clear in the books of Daniel and Revelation. These books follow the basic Zoroastrian religious narrative that the physical universe is the site of a great war between a God of Light and God of Darkness and their followers—the Sons of Light and Sons of Darkness. In this religion, Zoroaster is the savior figure, who dies and returns—now named Zarathustra—at the end of time to lead the Sons of Light in a great final battle against the forces of darkness. A Zoroastrian text was found among the Dead Sea Scrolls.